Author Topic: A what...?? Alembic Superfilter...??? (Read 494 times)

muller1007 · « **on:** March 20, 2007, 01:33:01 AM »

I recently purchased an SF-2 from one of our US club members. He shipped it to me in The Netherlands. Unfortunately the lot that contained the SF-2 was was impounded and investigated by Dutch customs. After ten (!) days the package was cleared and sent to my address, unfortunately with an invoice for additional taxes.

But anyway, hilarious thing is the article description that customs stated on the invoice, which is translated: appliance for filtering or purify water LOL!

They clearly had no idea what it was, nor did they open the package to see for themselves. I guess the description Alembic superfilter made them think that they were dealing with an extraordinarily effective fluid filtering device used in distillation, hahaha.

Duncan

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2007, 03:13:04 AM »

That's a good one!

The Dutch customs seem to open up most parcels that are not properly declared. If I remember correctly, they charge 25% import duties on the declared value - so what did you have to pay?

muller1007 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2007, 03:33:39 AM »

Well, the customs declaration on the package was completely and properly filled out, so that wasn't the issue. I contacted customs because it took so long for my package to clear. They told me that the entire lot was impounded and checked, so I guess the check was just a random sample. Upon arrival, the package appeared not to have been opened.

They estimated a custom value of 339 Euro ($395 declared value) and added 19% import VAT and additionally 5% declaration costs. So a total of 81 Euro. Not too bad...

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2007, 04:05:53 AM »

Should have been clearer ... When I sent my Spoiler electronics to Alembic for customization, I should have declared the goods for export. When the goods were returned, there was no export declaration, so they were considered newly imported, and I had to pay taxes. (They don't seem to realize that greed is one of the capital sins.)

Anyway, as far as I know they do check pretty much everything, and your parcel just happened to be in a lot that took a lot of time to process.

0vid · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2007, 02:59:42 AM »

LOL
This is even better than the Olympic one.
I am an amateur fencer, as in (foil, eppe, and sabre) fencing as a sport, and I had to retrieve my fencing equipment from some agricultural customs section when I moved to NZ to live there for a few years.

I need to buy an Alembic superfilter now. Might even get arrested for making moonshine.

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2007, 11:35:57 AM »

Still happy with mine!
Lucky me: a couple of years ago somebody wanted to get rid of it and placed it in Edwin's store. I claimed it and was able to pauy him in a few months!
GREAT tool: even a washthub with stick and string cabn you make sound good on it! Of course ....in that case you have the PU problem to solve.
Hehehehehe

Paul TBO

Paul TBO